Talk of the day

By Times Staff Writer
Published March 5, 2008

Marley movie planned, based on wife's book

Weinstein Co., the film company led by brothers Harvey and Bob Weinstein, acquired the rights to make a movie about the musical careers of singer-songwriter Bob Marley, shown above in 1979, and his widow, Rita, who was part of a trio that provided backup vocals to Marley's band, the Wailers. The movie will be based on Rita Marley's autobiography, No Woman No Cry: My Life With Bob Marley. The film will cover the Marleys' early lives in Jamaica's Trenchtown ghetto and follow them as Bob Marley rose to fame with the Wailers, the company said. He died of cancer in 1981 at the age of 36.

Microsoft takes on Google in the sky

Microsoft Corp., the world's largest softwaremaker, introduced a program that lets users view the night sky online and advanced search options to step up its competition with Google Inc. The Worldwide Telescope software combines imagery from telescopes on the ground and in space to display pictures of the universe, Microsoft said Tuesday. The program will be available in the first half of this year, the company said. It has features similar to Google Inc.'s Google Sky program, which also offers interactive views of the universe.

GM battery power launch set for 2010

General Motors Corp. says it expects to bring its first lithium-ion-battery-powered hybrid engine system to market in North America in 2010. The automaker announced the hybrid system Tuesday at the Geneva International Motor Show, saying the new battery will deliver three times the power of GM's current nickel-metal-hydride batteries. Automakers and battery companies across the globe have been racing to develop lithium-ion technology, seen by many as the key to mass producing hybrid vehicles powered by conventional and electric motors. The batteries also are essential in producing the next generation of electric cars. Also, Daimler AG plans to introduce a gasoline-electric hybrid version of its Mercedes-Benz flagship S-Class luxury sedan that also uses a lithium-ion battery starting next year.

Apple pumps up iPod fitness plans

Nike and Apple are making the iPod compatible with gym equipment. The companies said Tuesday they are working with several gym equipment makers and the health clubs 24-Hour Fitness and Virgin Athletic Health Clubs to allow members to plug their iPod Nano into cardio equipment. The Nanos would track workouts, set goals and upload the information to a Nike Web site. The new technology is expected to hit more than 500 gyms worldwide this summer.

Dell gets tough on laptop rivals

Dell Inc., the world's second-largest personal computer maker, will sell heavy-duty notebooks used in extreme environments to compete with Panasonic Corp. The Latitude XFR D630 has a 14.1-inch, weighs about 9 pounds and will be priced starting at $3,899.